Communication Comparing profitability of Burlina and Holstein Friesian cattle breeds Denis Pretto, Massimo De Marchi, Chiara Dalvit, Martino Cassandro Dipartimento di Scienze Animali. Università di Padova, Italy Corresponding author: Dr. Denis Pretto. Dipartimento di Scienze Animali, Università di Padova, Agripolis. Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy - Tel. +39 049 8272614 - Fax: +39 049 8272633 Email:
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ABSTRACT - Aim of this study was to compare profitability of Burlina and Holstein Friesian cows in northern Italy. Cow’s profitability was calculated for each breed, with consideration of economic incentive programs and alternative milk pricing scenarios. The difference in annual profitability between Burlina and Holstein Friesian ranged from −€719 to −€274 per cow per year. In a low-input management level with a cow’s incentive payment and a specific cheese market strategy the low milk yield of Burlina can be compensate respect to Holstein Friesian. Key words: Dairy cattle, Burlina, Local breeds, Profitability.
Introduction - According to the most recent FAO’s estimates (DAD-IS, 2008), about onethird of cattle breeds in Europe have been lost and a further on-third are at risk of extinction. Local dairy cattle breeds can be portrayed to good milk coagulation ability (Pacini et al., 2008) and related with the preservation of local traditions and typical food products (Dalvit et al., 2007). The Burlina (BU) cattle breed is reared in North-East Italy and population size dramatically decreased in the past century (Pianta, 1982). Burlina cattle preserved good fitness and functional traits and, it is well adapted to difficult environmental conditions as marginal mountain areas (Dalvit et al., 2008). However, due to the lower milk production of BU cows, if compared to Holstein Friesian (HF) cows, the BU breed was progressively substituted in herds of the most productive area leaving the BU breed in the marginal areas, although since some years an economic incentive has been provided by European Union agricultural policy for endangered status (PSR 2007-2013). Traditionally, from BU milk a typical cheese called Morlacco has been produced and a pilot project in order to increase the value of Morlacco cheese produced only from Burlina milk has been developed. Aim of this study was to compare profitability of BU and HF cows assuming alterantive scenarios. Material and methods - Comparison between HF and BU was carried out in the Treviso province herds (northeast of Italy) using average value of production and reproduction Ital.J.Anim.Sci.
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performance traits (Table 1) of official milk recording system (AIA, 2007). Yearly milk yield was calculated according to Gandini et al. (2007). Productive life were calculated multiplying average lactations number by calving interval, while replacement rate were calculated dividing 1 by productive life. Rearing costs per heifer, value of a calf at 1 week of age, value of a cow at culling, and insemination (semen and technician) costs were recorded by breed experts and expressed as mean value related to year 2007. The two breeds were compared in terms of difference in profitability (DP): DP=(RBU –CBU)–(RHF–CHF); where RBU and RHF are the average revenues, and CBU and CHF are the average costs, respectively in HF and BU breeds, expressed as € per cow per year. All revenues and costs were considered per cow per year according to productive life and calving interval. Value of a calf at 1 wk of age and a cow at culling were set to 150€ and 400€, respectively in according to local market suggested by breed experts. Difference in profitability was calculated on the basis of two milk payment scenarios: the first one refers to milk fluid market (S-Milk) and the second one refers to milk of BU processed to make Morlacco cheese by Burlina milk (S-cheese). DP in the first scenario (S-Milk) was simulated without current incentive payments (Ip) provided by European Union. Results and conclusions - Burlina yearly milk yield was about 48% less than milk produced by HF cows, but BU breed showed a more favourable situation for functional traits (Table 1). Burlina resulted in average Table 1: Performances and economic data used for in 127 days open and Holstein Friesian and Burlina breeds. 1.7 services per pregnancy. These values Breed are lower than those Item Holstein Friesian Burlina of HF, while the numProduction and Reproduction performances: ber of lactations was - Year milk yield, kg 9,460 4,893 higher (+1.28) and the - Protein, % 3.28 3.25 productive life longer - Fat, % 3.62 3.58 (+1.1 years) than in - Days open, d 182 127 HF cows. Incentive - Calving interval, years 1.27 1.12 payments or, as an al- Services per pregnancy, n 2.6 1.7 ternative, the develop- Average lactations number 2.44 3.72 ment of a branded dai- Productive life, years 3.1 4.2 ry product affected DP - Replacement rate, % 32 24 (Figure 1). Revenues and costs: The strategy of - Incentives payment per cow/year1 200.00€ incentive payments - Milk value for fluid milk industry, €/kg 0.38€ 0.38€ (S-Milk+Ip) partially - Milk value for Morlacco-Burlina cheese, €/kg 0.43€ compensated (28%) - Rearing costs per heifer 1,600.00€ 1,200.00€ the lower income from - Insemination costs 30.00€ 30.00€ BU cows with respect - Feed cost per kg of milk 0.156€ 0.144€ to HF cows. When milk - Feed cost per day of dry period 1.74€ 1.40€ was sold for Morlacco 1 incentive payment from European Union (PSR 2007-2013). cheese production, DP 66
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Figure 1.
Difference in profitability between Burlina (BU) and Holstein Friesian (HF) breeds in relation to milk pricing scenarios and presence of economic incentives: milk fluid sold to dairy industry (S-Milk), S-Milk and economic incentives to BU cows (S-Milk+Ip), milk production sold as Morlacco cheese by BU milk plus economic incentives to BU cows (S-Cheese+Ip), and SCheese+Ip with HF low milk yield (7,900kg) (HF LowProd) in a low-input management level.
200 0 Profitability, e/cow/yr
0 -200 -274
-400 -600 -800
-519 -719 S-Milk
S-Milk + Ip
S-Cheese + Ip
HF LowProd
changed from −€519 to −€274 (47%), due to the high price of single-breed cheese. The DP was equal to zero in HF LowProd scenario when HF yields 7,900kg, as in the case of herds located in marginal areas. According to Gandini et al. (2007) results evidenced that Ip is insufficient to make local breeds profitable. Nevertheless in the marginal areas, the developing of brand products is useful to safeguard local breeds, preserve territory and traditional culture link to livestock activity. REFERENCES - A.I.A. 2007. Milk recording activity: Official Statistics. Italian Breeders Association (A.I.A.), Roma, Italy. DAD-IS. 2008. http://dad.fao.org/. Dalvit C., M. De Marchi, M. Cassandro. 2007. Genetic traceability of livestock products. A review. Meat Sci. 77: 437-449. Dalvit, C., M. De Marchi, R. Dal Zotto, E. Zanetti, T. Meuwissen, M. Cassandro, 2008. Genetic characterization of the Burlina cattle breed using microsatellite markers. J. Anim. Breed. Genet., 125: 137-144. Gandini, G., C. Maltecca, F. Pizzi, A. Bagnato, R. Rizzi, 2007. Comparing local and commercial breeds on functional traits and profitability: the case of Reggiana Cattle. J. Dairy Sci. 90: 2004-2011. Pacini, F., A. Fellin, C. Andrighetto, R. Dal Zotto, M. De Marchi, M. Cassandro, A. Lombardi, 2008. Detection of B k-casein variant (CSN3*B) in Burlina dairy cattle by PCR-TTGE. Dairy Sci Technol. 88: 217-223. Pianta, A. 1982. Il problema Burlina. Storia di una razza. Comunità montana del Grappa, Paderno del Grappa (TV). PSR, Piano Di Sviluppo Rurale. 2007-2013. Pagamenti agroambientali. Sottomisura biodiversità. Misura 214/f.
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